If you’ve ever had a bad Windows update or a system corruption, you’ll know it can be paralyzing for your OS, or operating system and render it useless. That’s why you need to create a restore point before anything ever goes wrong. A restore point is like an insurance policy that protects your OS before the worst happens. Here’s how to create one.

What to do:

• In Windows search bar type restore. Then click on Create a restore point.
• When the new window opens up click Create. Be sure to put a description about what your restore point is. Click Create again after you’ve input your description.

Now you have created a restore point. Here’s how to use it if you ever need to.

• Right click the Windows icon and select Settings.
• Click System, then scroll down and select Recovery.
• In Advanced startup hit Restart now. Then click troubleshoot > Advanced options > System restore.
• A new window will pop up. Click next then click the restore point and click next again.
• Restart your PC when prompted.

That’s it. Your computer should now be restored to the point where you saved the restore point—back to its last working state.

Just something to note: System Restore is different from making a backup. It specifically works on the underlying Windows system rather than everything on your hard drive. Because of that it doesn’t save old copies of your personal files. It also won’t delete or replace any of your personal files when you perform a restoration. So don’t count on it as working like a full backup—for that you’ll either want an external drive or cloud storage.

That’s a wrap for this edition of Try This. For more tips and tricks, be sure to subscribe to our PCWorld Try This newsletter.

Author: Dominic Bayley, Australian Editor, PCWorld